So should we really care about languishing in this particular green league table? When the UK government launched its 'Get a bag habit' campaign earlier this year, George Monbiot argued that plastic bags shouldn't be a high priority environmental issue, because they account for a small proportion of the country's total waste (3.2%) and just 5kg of each individual's annual 12,500kg carbon footprint.

While small towns such as Modbury have achieved plastic bag bans, larger cities - including London and Brighton - have both talked about bans but failed to follow through with legislation.

Should we care about how Britain compares to the rest of the world on plastic bag use? And if we are to take more radical action on them, which countries do you think are adopting the right approach: Ireland with its 15 Euro cents tax, Wales's plans for a 15 pence charge, Taiwan's ban on the distribution of free plastic bags, or somewhere else?